The North Face Hyper-Track Guide Running Shoes

The North Face Hyper Track Guide is a hybrid shoe that has the comfort and flexibility for the road, but enough tread to all it to manage the trails as well. This shoe is extremely light weight, coming in at only 9 ounces for the men’s shoe.

The shoe also caters to mid foot runners and those who are attempting to convert to a mid foot strike. This is done by giving the shoe an 8mm heel to toe drop that facilitates and promotes a mid foot strike.

The Hyper Track Guide is a great shoe for runners that like to alternate between the road and the trail, but choose not to purchase a trail specific shoe.

Overall Impressions

I personally like to alternate between running on the road and the trail, but I have no desire to invest in a pair of trail specific shoes. I am a person that likes to where my athletic shoes as a part of my casual dress and trail shoes just don’t fit. The problem with regular running shoes is that they don’t translate to the trail very well at all. The Hyper Track Guide provides the perfect alternative to having to buy a separate pair of shoes for each surface. Why buy two pair of shoes when one will do the trick.

The first major surprise I experienced with the Hyper Track Guide was realizing just how light they are when I pulled them out of the box. For a runner, a shoe can never be too light. The weight of the Hyper Track Guide is very comparable to a neutral road shoe, which is quite remarkable for a shoe that has off road capability.

Another great thing about the shoe is that the sole is not nearly as stiff as most trail shoes. Stiff soles are a major turnoff to me and most runners. They don’t make for a comfortable run at all.

During the first run, I found that the shoe does very well on flat road surfaces, providing and even mid foot strike and the cushion and support that I would expect from a neutral running shoe. Then the time came to see how the shoe transitioned from the road to the trail. I was not disappointed in the slightest.

The shoe had great traction and support, while remaining surprising comfortable.

The Sole

The North Face Hyper Track Guide is designed as a hybrid, so the sole is different than the average running shoe and trail shoe. The designers did a tremendous job of blending the lighter weight and sleek profile with the durability and roughness necessary for the trail. Unlike the typical trail shoe, the Hyper Track Guide does not contain a rock plate, but instead contains a high abrasion rubber outsole, which is designed to protect the runner from sharp rocks, stones and other hard or sharp objects. The absence of a rock plate provides the capability for better contact and more control and balance during your run.

The 8mm heel to toe ratio follows the recent trend of shoes that are designed to cater to the trend of runners changing their strike patterns to more of a mid foot strike.

The Upper

Just writing about the Hyper Track Guide upper, gets me excited. The shoe has an extremely smooth and soft interior; meaning that there will be fewer blisters and less chaffing. This adds a comfort factor that is not normally present when dealing with off road shoes.

The Hyper Track Guide also features a mesh upper, which contributes to keeping your feet cool. Mesh also dries out easily when you have gone on rainy runs. The entire upper is seamless, meaning that there are no sewn seams. The entire overlay in bonded to the sole of the shoe. This contributes to the interior comfort of the shoe.

Conclusion

If you are dual surface runner that likes to run on flat road surfaces as well as trails, and you don’t want to invest in an additional trail specific shoe, the North Face Hyper Track Guide is the perfect alternative.

The shoe is exceptionally light for a shoe that has trail capability. The mesh upper makes for a more cool and comfortable run, even on rainy days. The stability that is provided when running over rocks is exceptional, especially considering that the shoe does not have a rock plate.